Safeguarding Skills

Apprenticeship ‘Clearing House’ launched to save skills affected by the economic downturn

A series of measures to safeguard house building skills during the economic downturn have been announced, including a Government Task Force established with ConstructionSkills.

The task force will:

• lead on a rapid response service to find new employer places for apprentices facing redundancy
• work to ensure there are enough new apprentices in training
• support the thousands of apprentices at risk of not completing their apprenticeship.

A network of regional ConstructionSkills staff will be providing a range of support measures to encourage employers to retain their existing apprentices. 

Where this is not possible, an apprenticeship ‘clearing house’ developed with the Department for Innovation, University and Skills (DIUS) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) will encourage employers across the wider construction industry – including the social housing, repair and maintenance or environmental improvement sectors – to take on ‘at risk’ apprentices.

Call the Apprenticeship Matching Service Helpline on 0844 875 0086 for further information on these services.

ConstructionSkills is also looking for employers to contribute towards the debate about how we can make things easier to take on an apprentice.

Email apprenticeship.support@cskills.org to tell us your views on the issue.